Once there was Darkness

Chapter 16

Part 2

Kol woke to the sound of a slamming door. He was sitting in a chair, his head on her shoulder and she was on a table. The slamming door was from two big men carrying a table followed by a very small woman. He remembered, this was Enda. The men put the table down behind him.

Enda had to stand on a stool to check on Kessa’s wound. She walked around the table. Kol estimated that maybe 3 inches of her head was visible as she walked. Enda looked right at Kol; pointed at him, pointed at the table, made her hands to represent pillows, laid her head on them, pointed at the bed, then back at Kol. He gave a sleepy smile. It was understood what she wanted him to do. She pointed at him again before bowing her head to leave.

Kol woke again to the sounds of Kessa stirring. “How are you feeling?”

“Let’s pray that never happens again, my king.”

There was a knock, “come.” Kol instructed.

It was Max and a very young girl. Kessa got up as did Kol.

Kessa said her name, “Jolla?”

She started sobbing, “I did it. I shot you. I just wanted to make sure the first arrow I made worked.”

Kessa laughed, “child, it worked.”

“What shall her punishment be?” Max asked smiling.

Jolla stood like a stone. Tears streaming down her face. “Name it.”

Kessa looked at Kol, “what do you think, my king?”

“King!?” Jolla squeaked. She tried to make herself smaller than she was.

He put his thumb under his chin and is forefinger over his mouth. “Has this ever happened before?” He pointed at Jolla, “a trainee shooting a Bejhar commander?”

“All we were allowed to shoot was hunks of wood and lesser animals.” Max was trying so hard not to smile.

“When Marcus was a lieutenant he was hit in the rump with a stone from a sling. He couldn’t walk for days.” Kessa reflected.

“I’ve got it!” Max said with glee. “Kitchen duty.”

Jolla stifled a protest. After all, she did say name it.

“There are a lot of mouths to feed.” Kol remarked.

Max said, “You are going to start now. Go to Cupia, see if there was anything left from breakfast, for two, and bring it back here.”

“Yes sir.” Jolla bowed her head and left. Max lowered his head and followed behind her.

Kessa smiled, “you being here scared her more than any fear of punishment. I think I need to keep you around, my king.”